Support structure for underwater sensing equipment



Dec. 8, 1964 H. c. BECK ETAL SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR UNDERWATER SENSING EQUIPMENT 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 8, 1963 Dec. 8, 1964 H. c. BECK ETAL SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR UNDERWATER SENSING EQUIPMENT 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 8, 1963 Hewey $720.40 E Paw/45 41 Dec. 8, 1964 H. c. BECK ETAL SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR UNDERWATER SENSING EQUIPMENT 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 8, 1965 0 6 Q6 5 awwm y e w 6 5 4 4 7515 m 2 V6 J. f 7 M /fl .H W; A #F a Y B 1964 H. c. BECK ETAL 3,160,847

SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR UNDERWATER SENSING EQUIPMENT Filed May 8, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 LA cfiL lvl/avmes.

72 1 w J J51 Mae/ca BY United States Patent @fihre 3,160,847 Patented Dec. 8, 1964 3,160,847 SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR UNDERWATER SENSING EQUIPMENT Henry C. Beck, Ossining, Harold E. Fowler, New City,

and Falco J. Delmerico, Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., assignors t the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy Filed May 8, 1963, Ser. No. 279,666 3 Claims. (Cl. 3404) Thisinvention relates to a support for underwater sensling equipment. More particularly, this invention relates to -a multi-dimensional support for an array of underwater sensing equipment.

One of the crucial parameters in the design of modern sonar systems is the correlation distance of signals. Signal correlation may be measured as a function of hydrophone separation in two or three dimensions, but this requires a supporting structure having large spatial extensions in as many dimensions. The structure must be able to be launched from a ship-at-sea, lowered to the desired depth and then retrieved without sustaining damage. In the past, however, such structures could not be handled in this manner because of their inordinate size and geometric configuration.

These disadvantages are substantially overcome by the present invention, hereinbelow described, with particular reference to its installation, by ships at sea, which is the most diflicult use 'situs.

The subject invention provides a supporting structure having a plurality of vertically dependent arms adapted for movement by ambient sea pressure through a system of linkages into a horizontal position wherein the arms radiate outwardly in at'least two directions.

An object of this invention is to provide an apparatus of novel construction for the support of underwater sensing equipment.

Another object is to provide a collapsible structure of a portable, compact nature for the support of underwater sensing equipment. 7

A further object is to provide a collapsible structure for the support of underwater sensing equipment adapted to be launched from and retrieved by a ship at sea.

A still further object is to provide a support for underwater sensing equipment of low fabrication and maintenance cost, light weight, high durability that is facile in use under a wide variety of service conditions.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention Will be readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of the apparatus in the closed position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the apparatus in the initial phase of opening in response to increasing ambient pressure.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the apparatus in the intermediate phase of opening in response to'a greater ambient pressure.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the apparatus in the final phase of opening.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views. 1 v

The apparatus, as shown in FIG. 1, is provided with a plurality of movable arms 11 depending from a central frame 12, the arms 11' being adapted for movement through a system of linkages by ambient sea pressure acting on a hydraulic cylinder 13 within which is housed a top plate 15 connected toa bottom plate 16 bya plurality of spaced uprights 17, each of which function as a guide for a vertically movable platform 18. A cylinder 13 housing a piston 14 is mounted upon the upper surface of the top plate 15, the piston having a dependent rod 19 passing through the top plate 15 and connected to crossbars 21 mounted on the upper surface of the vertically movable platform 18.

The linkage system comprises a plurality of pivotally mounted arms 11 operatively connected to the movable platform 18 by a plurality of tie-bars 23. One end of each of the arms 11 is pivotally mounted on an end of a set of cross-bars 24 secured between the bottom plate 16 of the frame 12 and a securing plate 25. The body of each of the arms 11 is pivotally secured to one end of a tie-bar 23 by a clevis 26 and pin 27, while the other end of the same tiebar 23 is pivotally secured to one of the ends of the cross-bars 21 mounted on the vertically movable platform 18. Each of the arms is provided with an angular extension 28, the angle between the extension and the arm insuring that the extension is substantially horizontal due to the cooperative action of the'linkage system when the platform 18 is at the height of its movement in the frame 12.

In the first phase of the operation, the collapsible structure is supported in air by means of a cable 31 prior to its immersion in the sea, as shown in FIG. 1. At this point, each of the extensions 28, due to its weight, is vertically dependent on the arms 11 of the linkage system. When the apparatus is fully lowered into the sea, water will enter the cylinder 13 through an aperture 32 in the lower portion thereof. As the apparatus is lowered further into the sea, the increase experienced in surrounding pressure will be transmitted to the water within the cylinder 13 and, as a result, the piston 14 will be forced upwardly against the entrapped air in the upper portion of the cylinder 13.

Due to this action, the connecting rod 19 carried by the piston 14 will be pulled in an upward direction and the platform 18 to which the rod is secured will be moved vertically in the same direction within the frame 12, thereby activating the entire linkage system.

The operation of the linkage system in opening is sequentially shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. The tie-bars 23, whose upper ends are operatively connected to the platform 18, will be pulled in an upward direction and the arms 11 will be forced to pivot on their individual mounts on the cross bars 24 by the lower end of each of the tie-bars 23, as shown in FIG. 1. In the initial phase of opening, as shown in FIG. 1, the lower end of each of the tie-bars 23 progresses in an upward but outward direction as the platform 18 progresses upwardly within the frame 11. However, in the final stage of opening, i.e. after the arms 11 have reached the horizontal position as shown in FIG.

2, the lower portion of the tie-bars 23 will progress in an When the apparatus is fully .open, as shown in FIG. 4,

a structure is provided for either a two or three dimensional arrangement of underwater sensing equipment for experiments in both the acoustic and oceanographic fields. The apparatus may be adapted to open at a predetermined depth and is capable of submergence to depths of the order of 5000 feet without sustaining damage. An added advantage is that an external power source is not required to accomplish the opening and closing of the apparatus.

When desired, the apparatus may be simply collapsed by raising it to a lesser depth through the use of the connecting cable. As the depth at which the apparatus is suspended is decreased, the ambient pressure communicating with the piston 14 within the cylinder 13 will diminish and the entrapped air in the upper portion of the cylinder 13 will expand, forcing the piston down within the cylinder. As a result, the connecting rod 19 and the platform 13 to which it is connected will be forced in a downward direction until the travel of the cross-bars 21 is stopped by the mountings 33 on each side of the frame 12. The collapsing of the arms 11 is further aided by the weight of the extensions 28 acting on the linkage system and cooperating with the downward movement of each of the tiebars 23.

When the apparatus is collapsed, the extensions 28 will depend vertically from the frame 12 on the arms 11, as shown in FIG. 1. As such, the apparatus is a compact structure which can be easily retrieved from the sea by the ship without sustaining damage, as by collisions with the hull of the ship.

Obviously, many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. For instance, it may be advantageous, in some cases, to connect an air reservoir in the form of a cylinder 34 to the air side of the piston to increase the volume of air and thereby reduce the back pressure on the piston 14. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as described.

We claim:

1. Support structure for underwater sensing equipment comprising:

an upper arid lower plate,

a plurality of guides mounted in spaced relationship between said plates,

a vertically movable platform slidably mounted on said guides between said plates,

a housing mounted on the upper of said plates,

an air-backed piston slidably mounted in said housing,

said piston having a dependent rod passing through said upper plate and connected to said platform,

a plurality of arms pivotally mounted in spaced relationship on the lower of said plates,

a plurality of tie-bars one end of each of which is pivotally attached to the body of one of said arms and the other end of which is pivotally attached to said movable platform, and

a plurality of extensions each of which is attached at an angle to the free end of said arms.

4t 2. Support structure for underwater sensing equipment comprising:

a top plate,

a bottom plate,

a plurality of upright guides mounted in spaced relationship between said plates,

a vertically movable platform slidably mounted on said guides between said plates,

a cylinder having one end mounted on said top plate,

an air-backed piston housed on said cylinder,

said piston having a dependent rod passing through said top plate and connected to said platform,

a plurality of arms one end of each being pivotally mounted on said bottom plate.

a plurality of tie-bars one end of each of which being attached to the body of one of said arms and the other end of each being attached to said movable platform, and

a pluarlity of extensions each of which is attached at an angle to one of said arms.

3. Support structure for underwater sensing equipment comprising:

a top plate,

a bottom plate,

a plurality of upright guides mounted in spaced relationship between said plates,

a vertically movable platform slidably mounted on said guides between said plates,

a cylinder having one end mounted on said top plate,

an air-backed piston housed in said cylinder,

said piston responsive in movement Within said cylinder to changes in pressure,

a rod, one end of which is connected to said piston and the other end of which is connected to said movable platform through said top plate,

said rod transmitting vertical movement from said piston to said platform,

a plurality of arms one end of each being pivotally mounted on said bottom plate,

a plurality of tie-bars one end of each being pivotally mounted on the body of a separate arm and the other end of which being pivotally mounted on said movable platform,

a plurality of extensions one end of each communicating at an angle with the free end of a separate arm.

No references cited.

CHESTER L. JUSTUS, Primary Examiner. 

1. SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR UNDERWATER SENSING EQUIPMENT COMPRISING: AN UPPER AND LOWER PLATE, A PLURALITY OF GUIDES MOUNTED IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SAID PLATES, A VERTICALLY MOVABLE PLATFORM SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON SAID GUIDES BETWEEN SAID PLATES, A HOUSING MOUNTED ON THE UPPER OF SAID PLATES, AN AIR-BACKED PISTON SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING, SAID PISTON HAVING A DEPENDENT ROD PASSING THROUGH SAID UPPER PLATE AND CONNECTED TO SAID PLATFORM, 